Darkest Nights: a RWBY Story

Chapter 43: the End is Near

"You sure you're ready to try again?"
Talia asked.
The hot, mid afternoon sun shone down on the training ground behind the castle.
Jason nodded and closed his eyes.
From the veranda, Blake watched as Jason's body became enveloped in a glowing silhouette— the avatar of the guardian.
Jason opened his eyes as he felt the power surging through him.
"Ready."
He said.
Talia aimed Headhunter, fitted with a practice bolt, at her brother's chest, and fired.
The second the bolt touched the golden aura around Jason, it splintered apart.
Talia fired 7 more shots, each bolt shattering as it came into contact with the golden aura field.
Wheeling around, Jason drew back his right fist and punched a nearby boulder.
The second his fist came into contact with the rock's surface, the stone exploded, shards flying everywhere.
As he turned back to face his sister however, Jason's sight began to dim, his vision growing redder.
𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯!
He thought to himself.
𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳...
But it was no use.
Jason felt the aura field fade and he was once again falling into darkness.

When he opened his eyes however, Jason was no longer in the courtyard.
Instead, he found himself on what appeared to be a plateau on the side of a mountain.
Standing up, he looked over the edge of the cliff.
What he saw made his blood run cold.
The land below him was a writing sea of Grimm. Ursa, beowolves, and deathstalkers covered the ground as far as the eye could see, with at least 20 dragon Grimm circling in the skies above.
In the distance, Jason could make out the shape of what had once been Beacon academy.

"This is how it will end."
Jason spun around.
Salem stood there, looking exactly as she had done in the vision in the cave.
Jason reached for Phoenix Fire, already knowing that it wouldn't be there.
The woman chuckled darkly, a rough, grating sound that made Jason wince.
"In the end, everything you know and love will fall. But come now, foolish hero. I am waiting..."
With that, Salem disappeared as a cloud of smoke.

Jason's eyes shot open. He was lying where he had collapsed in the courtyard, and Talia and Blake were shaking him gently.
"You passed out again."
Talia said, helping him to sit up.
"Maybe you shouldn't use that power if it's too draining–"
She saw the look on her brother's face.
"What's wrong?"
Jason looked first at Blake, then at Talia.
"Salem..."
He said, his voice shaking slightly.
"I know where she is."